A Mom's Viral TikTok Shows How The Nationwide Formula Shortage Is Affecting Her Baby's Health
Any mom with an infant knows how stressful it can be to make sure they're getting enough nutrition, even when you have all the resources at hand, whether it's breastmilk or formula.
Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of moms across the U.S. are facing a terrifying prospect: they may not be able to secure formula to feed their baby. Roughly 40% of infant formula is out of stock around the country, and we're being told this shortage is happening due to supply chain issues, a recall on various kinds of Abbott formula due to a bacteria outbreak at a Michigan plant, and a trade policy that's blocking our country from receiving formula from other countries.
Whatever the reasons may be, mothers across the U.S. are nervously watching their formula amount dwindling, or even worse, they've already arrived at the point where they don't have any more formula to feed their baby. A mom of two named Kayzie Weedman shared a TikTok that showed just how much this shortage is affecting the health of her baby.
Kayzie Weedman's Viral TikTok Shows How the Formula Shortage Is Affecting Her Baby's Health
Kayzie wants to raise awareness about the formula shortage that's happening around the country. "You go to your local Target, your local Walmart, and you think you're going to get the formula your baby needs? Nope," she said. "Shelves are bare. And there are babies who can't have just any formula that's on the shelf."
She also reminded people that many babies can't just have any formula due to allergies or sensitivities. Her daughter has an allergy to cow's milk protein, so she shared a photo of what happens to her baby when she is forced to consume formula containing cow's milk.
"So, what am I going to do when I go to the shelves and can't get the formula that I need?" Kayzie continued. "The pharmacist who fills her prescription formula can't fill it because they can't get it – it's back-ordered six months and I just have to sit there and stare at empty shelves and not know what I'm going to do next."
She traveled three hours away from her home and still couldn't find formula on the shelves. "What are we going to do? Where do we go from here? How do formula moms feed their kids?" she said. "This is crazy." She also showed a video of the bare shelves she saw recently at the supermarket.
There are many moms in the comment section who have offered to send formula or do whatever they can to help this mom of two. But unfortunately, this nationwide issue won't just be solved by people shipping formula to moms in need.
Whatever your opinion is on formula, the objective truth is that many babies need formula and don't have access to breastmilk for whatever reason. Rather than shaming moms who give formula to their infants, we should be asking what can be done to help these families in need.